Ainge to leave the Vols?

[GoGriz]

I just heard a rumor that Erik Ainge could be transferring to the University of Montana. He would not have to sit out a year since Montana is a division I-AA team. Montana is a great fit for him as they chuck the football 60% of the time. Montana is one the best teams in I-AA for the last 10 years or so and is rumored to be going to division I-A soon, possibly the WAC.

Is this BS or is there any truth to it?

[troxel3]

I just heard a rumor that Erik Ainge could be transferring to the University of Montana. He would not have to sit out a year since Montana is a division I-AA team. Montana is a great fit for him as they chuck the football 60% of the time. Montana is one the best teams in I-AA for the last 10 years or so and is rumored to be going to division I-A soon, possibly the WAC.

Is this BS or is there any truth to it?


BS. Where did you hear that?

[Neo]

I don't see Ainge leaving, but I have heard that Brent Schaeffer is leaving.

[troxel3]

Hopefully.

[GoGriz]

This was just posted on the Griz message board. egriz.com

Just a rumor right now.

[Neo]

This was just posted on the Griz message board. egriz.com

Just a rumor right now.

I don't see Ainge leaving because he knows he's got the chance to start. The only reason I can see him leaving is to be closer to home.

Schaeffer on the other hand is good as gone. With the excellent play of Rick Claussen, he just keeps sliding further down the depth chart.

[troxel3]

Not gonna happen. Why would a guy that will probably be in the running for the Heisman next year go to play at a IIa school? Why would a guy who P. Manning called "the guy who will go down as the best QB to ever play at UT" go to Montana? Why would a guy leave UT, who is infamous for sending tons of players to the NFL, go to a school that has sent..........you get the point.

[Neo]

I must agree with Troxel there.

[GoGriz]

Not gonna happen. Why would a guy that will probably be in the running for the Heisman next year go to play at a IIa school? Why would a guy who P. Manning called "the guy who will go down as the best QB to ever play at UT" go to Montana? Why would a guy leave UT, who is infamous for sending tons of players to the NFL, go to a school that has sent..........you get the point.


Hey I know we aren't I-A but don't downplay an athletes ability to play in the NFL just because they are playing I-AA. The Griz have many playing in the NFL right now. Our QB this past season was Craig Ochs, and he is projected to be drafted in a few months. Believe me, if you are a talent, the NFL scouts will come to you no matter where you play. By no means am I trying to compare the Griz to any SEC school, but we get the spotlight shown on us too. The Griz played on ESPN 3 times this past season which is pretty much unheard of for I-AA football.

I agree, I think this is a BS rumor for Ainge, but now that you have mentioned Schaeffer it might be him.

Who knows?

[Neo]

Hey I know we aren't I-A but don't downplay an athletes ability to play in the NFL just because they are playing I-AA. The Griz have many playing in the NFL right now. Our QB this past season was Craig Ochs, and he is projected to be drafted in a few months. Believe me, if you are a talent, the NFL scouts will come to you no matter where you play. By no means am I trying to compare the Griz to any SEC school, but we get the spotlight shown on us too. The Griz played on ESPN 3 times this past season which is pretty much unheard of for I-AA football.

I agree, I think this is a BS rumor for Ainge, but now that you have mentioned Schaeffer it might be him.

Who knows?

We are not "picking" on Division II, we are just stating our opinions. Less than 10% of all players drafted are from Division II schools. Unless they are a "Super" player, they usually go unnoticed.

The problem with Div. II is that it doesn't prepare the player for the next level in my eyes.

The NFL loves players from the SEC, Big Ten, Big XII and ACC because it preps them for playing at the NFL level.

[troxel3]

That is why a Div. II school is a Div. II school. Less people, less talent, less visibilty.
Even if you are a super player, the scouts are going to make the assumption that the level of talent you are playing against is one of the reasons that you stood out.

Of course, there are exceptions, like Jerry Rice, who played at Mississippi Valley State.
That is pretty rare though, and a big gamble if you want to be a Pro.

[Neo]

That is why a Div. II school is a Div. II school. Less people, less talent, less visibilty.
Even if you are a super player, the scouts are going to make the assumption that the level of talent you are playing against is one of the reasons that you stood out.

Of course, there are exceptions, like Jerry Rice, who played at Mississippi Valley State.
That is pretty rare though, and a big gamble if you want to be a Pro.


Yes it is a big financial risk for the NFL teams to go out on a limb like that.

[GoGriz]

That is why a Div. II school is a Div. II school. Less people, less talent, less visibilty.
Even if you are a super player, the scouts are going to make the assumption that the level of talent you are playing against is one of the reasons that you stood out.

Of course, there are exceptions, like Jerry Rice, who played at Mississippi Valley State.
That is pretty rare though, and a big gamble if you want to be a Pro.

Not to be nitpicky here, but the Griz aren't Division II. They are Division I-AA. There is a big difference there. There are quite a few NFL players from I-AA starting in the NFL right now. Here are a few: Terell Owen, Steve McNair (2003 NFL co-MVP), Brian Westbrook, Daunte Culppeper, etc. etc. etc.

Like I said, if you have the talent, the cream will rise to the top. I am not disputing that the SEC better prepared an athelete for the NFL. The biggest differnce between I-A and I-AA football is not the quality of players, but the depth of quality players. Look at what Maine did to Mississippi State this past year. Guess what, the Griz stomped Maine in the beginning of the year.

My point reiterated is that if a kid is a competitor and wants to play and not sit the bench, I-AA is the way to go.

[Neo]

Not to be nitpicky here, but the Griz aren't Division II. They are Division I-AA. There is a big difference there. There are quite a few NFL players from I-AA starting in the NFL right now. Here are a few: Terell Owen, Steve McNair (2003 NFL co-MVP), Brian Westbrook, Daunte Culppeper, etc. etc. etc.

Like I said, if you have the talent, the cream will rise to the top. I am not disputing that the SEC better prepared an athelete for the NFL. The biggest differnce between I-A and I-AA football is not the quality of players, but the depth of quality players. Look at what Maine did to Mississippi State this past year. Guess what, the Griz stomped Maine in the beginning of the year.

My point reiterated is that if a kid is a competitor and wants to play and not sit the bench, I-AA is the way to go.

Daunte Culpepper is not from Div.IAA. He is a graduate from the University of Central Florida which is a Div. I school.

What you are forgetting is that Mississippi State is under probation and they were hit hard by the NCAA. The fact that Maine beat them was luck and it was proven when MSU went and whipped Florida later that year.

[GoGriz]

Daunte Culpepper is not from Div.IAA. He is a graduate from the University of Central Florida which is a Div. I school.

What you are forgetting is that Mississippi State is under probation and they were hit hard by the NCAA. The fact that Maine beat them was luck and it was proven when MSU went and whipped Florida later that year.

True, UCF didn't go I-A until Daunte was a JR.

Come on, when you hold a SEC team to 7 points at home, that is not LUCK my friend. Now that you mention the NCAA sanctions this reinforces my point on the depth of I-A teams. Part of the NCAA sanctions is less scholorships which neutralized MSU.

[Neo]

True, UCF didn't go I-A until Daunte was a JR.

Come on, when you hold a SEC team to 7 points at home, that is not LUCK my friend. Now that you mention the NCAA sanctions this reinforces my point on the depth of I-A teams. Part of the NCAA sanctions is less scholorships which neutralized MSU.

It was luck. How do you explain the "Stomping" they gave Florida then? Florida is not a bad team. Not by a long shot.

Blue-chip talent just isn't available to Div.IAA teams.

Take South Carolina for example. Given their reputation in the NFL, if you were a TB or a WR where would you want to play if you had a choice?

South Carolina or Montana?

USC has sent their fair share of players to the NFL.

Duce Staley
Stanley Pritchett
Dunta Robinson
Arturo Freeman
Marcus Robinson
Sterling Sharpe
Robert Brooks
Travelle Wharton
Ernest Dixon
Sheldon Brown
Corey Miller
Corey Jenkins
Brandon Bennett
Anthony Wright
John Abraham

I could go on, that's just a short list.

[troxel3]

My point reiterated is that if a kid is a competitor and wants to play and not sit the bench, I-AA is the way to go.

E. Ainge will not sit the bench. Yes, Clausen stepped in a did well, but he will play behind Ainge next year. Ainge is the future off UT right now. He has 3 years left and needs the PT. That is unless Crompton comes in a dazzles everyone, which many are saying he may put everyone on the bench. They say he is incredible. Either way, Ainge isn't going anywhere. Period.

[Neo]

E. Ainge will not sit the bench. Yes, Clausen stepped in a did well, but he will play behind Ainge next year. Ainge is the future off UT right now. He has 3 years left and needs the PT. That is unless Crompton comes in a dazzles everyone, which many are saying he may put everyone on the bench. They say he is incredible. Either way, Ainge isn't going anywhere. Period.


I don't think Fulmer would have taken a chance on him this past season getting him the needed experience only to sit him on the bench.

[troxel3]

This is just players currently in the NFL, not even past players.

http://smokeys-trail.com/vols-nfl.html

[troxel3]

Righto.....Fulmer loves to redshirt. If he starts a true freshman at any position, he has very big expectations for them.

[GoGriz]

It was luck. How do you explain the "Stomping" they gave Florida then? Florida is not a bad team. Not by a long shot.

Blue-chip talent just isn't available to Div.IAA teams.

Take South Carolina for example. Given their reputation in the NFL, if you were a TB or a WR where would you want to play if you had a choice?

South Carolina or Montana?

USC has sent their fair share of players to the NFL.

Duce Staley
Stanley Pritchett
Dunta Robinson
Arturo Freeman
Marcus Robinson
Sterling Sharpe
Robert Brooks
Travelle Wharton
Ernest Dixon
Sheldon Brown
Corey Miller
Corey Jenkins
Brandon Bennett
Anthony Wright
John Abraham

I could go on, that's just a short list.

Right on, I don't dispute that I-A puts more players in the NFL. This is where the depth issue come in. I-AA has NFL type players, just not near as many as I-A colleges.

As for Blue chippers, you are correct. Out of highscool, blue chipppers go to big time colleges. What happens is, once they get there, they become unhappy for one reason or the other (Craig Ochs, Buffs) and transfers to the top tier I-AA colleges. There are also many NFL type players that slip throught cracks due to grades, size, speed issues out of highschool, but mature when they get into college.

[JBryant12]

Maybe its just me but i dont really understand what your arguing.

[GoGriz]

Maybe its just me but i dont really understand what your arguing.

Okay, I understand and all of you at this board have been very classy. So, this will be my last post on this subject.

It was earlier stated that is was stupid for a player to transfer to a I-AA school when they could be at a SEC school or any I-A school for that matter. They also said that if a player wants to play in the NFL that they would have less of a chance with a I-AA school. Most people, including you guys, don't know a lot about I-AA and have a lot of bad information. Hell, most of you probably didn't know there was a distinction between Division II and Division I-AA.

All I am saying is that given a young man's situation in where he/she feels that they are not being treated fairly, or not getting enough PT, or whatever the case may be at a I-A school, it is not stupid for them to transfer to a top tier I-AA college. If they are NFL material, they will make to the NFL no matter what level they play at.

Later

[JBryant12]

okay thanks for clarifying

[QuackAttackVan]

Ainge is not leaving.

That would be sheer stupidity. Great future ahead of him.

[BigVol1]

Ainge is going nowhere. Why leave a Top 20 D-1 program when your the starter?

[QuackAttackVan]

Hell, if he leaves...come to us for the love of god.